I think 'It's not too late to change your mind' is better. But I wonder why does not "It's not so late that you can change your mind" sentence make sense? Can you explain this more clearly?
I doubt it, but I'll try.
It's a case of double negative resolving to a positive, isn't it :?: Would it be correct to say a sentence like this "there is no way for me not to go where you need me"? In other words, I have to go where you need me; I can't refuse going (to) where you need me. (And a side-question: Should I say where or to where in these sentences?) Would you share your thoughts and advises of this, please?
I immediately got the gist of it, even if the sentence sounds a bit awkward. I think the problem is that in some languages the word "that" often introduces an imperative clause. But I'm only guessing... :-?
R.Dear Raymott,
your explanation is as enlightening as always. :up: You are a great teacher, and if you don't mind, let me tell you that your avatar suits you. ;-)
Thank you. It is very close to the picture on my driver's licence!
It's a case of double negative resolving to a positive, isn't it :?:
No, it's not that easy! For a double negative to resolve to a positive, the two nots have to be in right place.
For example: "I did not tell you not to hit him" certainly doesn't mean "I told you to hit him". You can't assume that I told you to do something on the grounds that I didn't tell you not to do it!
(No doubt, the flaw in my argument above depends on ignoring this rule somewhere.)
Would it be correct to say a sentence like this "there is no way for me not to go where you need me"?
Yes.
In other words, I have to go where you need me; I can't refuse going (to) where you need me.
Yes, that's a good sentence with the correct meaning.
That is one sentence where the two negatives are in the right place to make a positive.
(And a side-question: Should I say where or to where in these sentences?) Would you share your thoughts and advises of this, please?
You don't need "to". "I'll go where you need me".
As for the original question,
I immediately got the gist of it, even if the sentence sounds a bit awkward. I think the problem is that in some languages the word "that" often introduces an imperative clause. But I'm only guessing... :-?
So what was your understanding of the sentence? - ie. the one that I told yuantanren that it didn't make sense.
When I read this sentence "It's not so late that you can change your mind", my first interpretation was something like "It's still not too late to change your mind", "You haven't reached the point where you can't turn back", etc. But, as I said, I was only guessing, so maybe I got it wrong.
Yes, that's wrong.Thank you very much for your enlightening reply. :up: Now it's crystal clear.
When I read this sentence "It's not so late that you can change your mind", my first interpretation was something like "It's still not too late to change your mind", "You haven't reached the point where you can't turn back", etc. But, as I said, I was only guessing, so maybe I got it wrong.
I have also agreed, that was not a question, and that wasn't your question. :-D You asked how I'd understood the original sentence right away, without going into logical ways.
(If someone said something like this: "What is the dinner going to cook this evening?", it would be obvious that he/she means "What are you going to cook for dinner this evening?". :mrgreen: )Yes, I knew it was wrong! ;-) I did not say it was correct; what I tried to say was that in spite of its logical/grammatical flaw, I thought I understood what the original sentence had been supposed to be meant. (Damn, it's complicated. :mrgreen: Is it correct, by the way?
):lol: I was referring to Yoda's wisdom and teaching skills. ;-) :up:
